Rugby Fans Enjoy 5G Viewing Services Tested by NTT Docomo

September 22, 2019

Tokyo- Rugby fans enjoyed the 2019 World Cup opening match between Japan and Russia on Friday night through a smartphone-based viewing service offered by NTT Docomo Inc. <9437> using 5G, or fifth generation, wireless technology on a trial basis.

For the match, held at Tokyo Stadium in the Tokyo suburb of Chofu, the leading Japanese mobile carrier also organized a 5G-utilized public viewing event in the Shiodome area in central Tokyo.

In the public viewing venue, three big screens were installed to show the match broadcast using the 5G technology, which enables up to 100 times as high-speed and large-volume data transmission as the existing 4G format does.

Cutting-edge 5G smartphones were also leased for free to about 300 visitors, who were chosen by lottery, so that they can watch images from different 5G cameras and check data on players.

"I enjoy this, feeling as if I were in the stadium," a 30-year-old company employee said.

In the opening match, Japan beat Russia 30-10.